RUSUMAAT has been written off by many thanks to his effort in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot and Sandown last time.

Granted, he didn’t set the world alight in either of those races but this looks a more suitable contest for his talents.

He drops back from a mile here to a 7f trip that saw him put in an excellent effort at Ascot earlier this season when finishing second. There’s also some juice in the ground at Newbury, which will be right up his street.

Although he’s run well on firm, he also won very nicely the last time soft appeared in the going description — at Catterick last season.

Hopefully Jim Crowley will keep the tactics simple and go from the front. That suits him best and he can use his proven stamina to draw the sting out of his rivals.

THE penny dropped for MAD JACK MYTTON at Aintree last time where he ended his run of more than two years without a win.

And it was a stylish victory too as he skipped away from his rivals to win with plenty of petrol left in the tank.

That victory was over this distance on similar ground and he should like Rasen as it’s a sharp track like Liverpool.

Ebony Express could be the main danger as he battled back well to score at Uttoxeter last time out. This looks a tougher race but he’s only 4lb higher in the weights.

2

Thikriyaat (right) gets cheekpieces for the first timeCredit: PA

2.25 NEWBURY

THIKRIYAAT didn’t fire at Newmarket last time, which was a surprise because he ran a cracker at York two starts ago. That was over a mile and the drop back to 7f on the July course didn’t seem to suit him.

He goes the other way here and shapes as though the distance could bring out the best in him. It’s also interesting to see Sir Michael Stoute reach for first-time cheekpieces too.

That could also wake him up a bit.

Spark Plug sets the standard after a convincing win over this distance at Sandown last time out. He should run well again despite shouldering a penalty.

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2.40 NEWMARKET

This looks wide open and SMART TOGETHER could progress enough to go very close. She hasn’t been rushed along by John Gosden and she improved for the step up to 1m2f from a mile at Newbury last time out.

She gives the impression that this longer distance again could help and there should be more to come on just her fourth run.

Serenada went for home too early in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last time and is another who is capable of a lot better.

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Credit: Getty Images

3.00 NEWBURY

TUPI will relish the bit of cut in the ground at Newbury and can go close in the Hackwood Stakes.

He was an impressive Listed winner at Doncaster in April, winning over this 6f trip by no fewer than four lengths.

He then stepped up in class at York and wasn’t helped by missing the start, although he was less than a length behind The Tin Man in sixth.

And he chased that foe home again last time out when an excellent sixth in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Granted he was never troubling the principals there but stayed on well inside the final furlong to get the better of some useful sprinters.

He should enjoy this drop in grade and will be better suited by conditions than many of his rivals.

3.20 MARKET RASEN

It’s the summer jumping highlight at Market Rasen and ALCALA can carry off the Plate.

This race is usually won by a lightly-raced improver and Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old fits the bill on both counts.

He comes here looking for his fourth chase win in five runs, with the most recent victory coming in fine style at Newton Abbot last time out.

His jumping was particularly good there as he gained lengths at several obstacles. That will be an asset when the pace hots up today.

The 2m5f trip is right up his street as his last two wins came over it, while he saw out 3m well to score at Ludlow in April too. So it won’t matter if this becomes a war of attrition.

Nicholls’ summer team is in fine form and he can land this nice prize.

There are plenty of dangers, with It’s A Gimme ticking plenty of boxes for Jonjo O’Neill. He gave the winner too much rope at Stratford last time and had to settle for second place.

But it was a good effort and he has gone well around here before. He has very few miles on the clock for a 10-year-old and is still improving over fences.

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3.35 NEWBURY

MAGGIE’S ANGEL can give Richard Fahey a third Weatherbys Super Sprint in the past five years.

We wouldn’t usually go for a favourite in a race like this but she looks a cut above her rivals.

She went close in a Newmarket Listed contest last time where she was asked to make up a lot of ground late on.

That was over 6f and her staying power will be an asset in a race likely to be run at breakneck pace. It won’t be a problem if the ground gets any softer because she relishes some cut as she showed at York in May.

At a bigger price, Lady Anjorica ran well when second at Ripon last time, with a good distance back to the third home, while Zalshah represents Richard Hannon who knows how to win this.

Ryan Moore is in the saddle and he has gone well on turf at Lingfield on his past two outings.